Learn Hardcore Korean: yeonghwaga jeil jaemiisseoyo.

재미있어요 is a descriptive verb (often called an “adjective” in English explanations). It comes from combining 재미 (“fun, interest”) with 있다 (“to have, to be”). So literally it’s “to have fun,” i.e. “to be fun.”

What is the dictionary (base) form of 재미있어요?

The dictionary form is 재미있다. The -요 ending (-어요) makes it polite when speaking.

What does 제일 mean, and how does it affect the sentence?

제일 means “most” (the superlative). In 영화가 제일 재미있어요, it tells you that “the movie” is the one that’s “the most fun” compared to other things.

How is 제일 different from 가장?

Both mean “most,” but 제일 is more colloquial and common in everyday speech. 가장 is slightly more formal or literary; the meaning is essentially the same.

Why is 제일 placed before 재미있어요 and not after?

As an adverb (it modifies the verb/adjective 재미있다), 제일 naturally precedes it. In Korean, adverbs generally come right before the verb or descriptive verb they modify.

Could you say 영화는 제일 재미있어요 instead? What would change?

Yes—you can use -는 to mark 영화 as the topic instead of the subject. 영화는 제일 재미있어요 shifts the nuance slightly: it might contrast “the movie” with something else (“as for movies…”). The basic meaning stays “The movie is the most fun,” but -는 gives a broader or contrasting tone, whereas -가 simply states it as the subject fact.

What level of politeness does -어요 convey compared to -습니다?

The -어요 ending is polite but informal (“요‐form”), suitable for friends you’re not super close with, acquaintances, salespeople, etc. The -습니다 ending is formal polite, used in official contexts, presentations, or when you want to show extra respect.